Grain-bin feed



Sept. 11, 192:;

o. 'F. APLIN GRAIN BIN FEED' Filed Feb. 26, 3,927 2 sheet -sn w 1 INVENTOR- apliv, BY

ATTORNEYS Sept. 11, 1928.

Y O F. APLIN GRAIN BIN FEED Filed Feb. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES v INVENTOR O-i'Ap ATTORNEY5- v Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES" OLE F. APLIN, OF CULBERTSON, MONTANA.

GRAIN-BIN FEED.

Application filed February 26, 1927. Serial No. 171,319. I

This invention relates to a grain bin feed meant particularly to be applied to a grain elevator of the usual type. Its object is to provide a device to regulate the feed of gram from the dumping pit of the elevator into the leg or upright casing, in which the bucket conveyor operates to taken the grain to a high point on the elevator. It is my purpose to provide a device that is positive and can be applied without alteration of the ordinary hand equipment, and to which other doors or slides can be added later and which will be useful on either side of the elevator; which is adaptableto the usual arrangements of slides found on elevators and which will not be affected by the settling of floors and timbers.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the convey- 4 ing means partly in section, showing the device applied to the leg of a grain elevator.

Fig. 2 shows the leg of the grain elevator in front elevation with the feed device applied thereto.

Fig. 3 shows the rear elevationof the elevator leg showing two doors or slides thereof controlled by the feed mechanism,

Fig. 4 shows a detail of one of the spacing triangles which separate the control levers of the device. i

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 numeral 1 indicating the leg of the grain elevator,

2 indicates the conveyor with the buckets 3, 4: is the inclined floor ofthe dumping pit. 55 indicate the feed doors of the elevator leg controlled by a system-of levers, of which 6-6 are the ones immediately operating the doors shown. The levers 6 are raised and lowered by a crank shaft 77 which is hinged on the end of the beam 8. The middle crank of this crank shaft is attached to the lever 6 and the other end is attached to a strut 9. The struts 9 are provided with a series ofholes near their outer ends, permitting adjustable fastening of the crank thereto. In this way, the distance of opening of the doors 55 is regulated which produces a corresponding change in the rate of admission of grain.

The strut members 9 are rotatably connected at their opposite ends, with the end of lever 10, which is fulcrumed on the triangular quadrant support 11. The quadrant 12 is ell! elevator leg to control two doors instead of one. Fig. 3 constitutes a rear view of Fig. 2.

Referrin to Figs. 1 and 2, 14 constitutes a spring return means for the doors or slides 5 after they have been opened. One end is attached to the door as shown at 13, While the other end is fast to the floor as at 16.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to three lever systems for operatingthree doors or slides, as shown, but may consist of an unlimited number.

I will now describe the operation of the device, which is as follows The lever 10 is pulled to the right, shifting the struts 9 longitudinally which in turn rock the crank shafts to lift these levers 6 and the doors or slides 5 upward an amount governed by the limit of movement of the crank shafts. In returning the door to shut position the spring His of assistance in making a quick cut-ofi'. The return is accomplished by moving the lever 10 to a position in the middle of the quadrant.

I claim 1. In combination a pair of parallel grain elevator legs each of which having a vertically movable slide, crank shafts journalled adjacent each leg, each of which have operative connection with one of the slides, a manually adjustable lever, and longitudinally shiftable levers connected with the manually adjustable lever and having operative connection with the crank shafts whereby to actuate the slides upon movement of the manually actuated lever.

2. In combination a grain elevator leg having a vertically movable slide, a crank shaft journalled to one side of the slide and having operative connection with the latter, a hand lever arranged adjacent the'leg and a lever having pivotal connection'with the hand lever and provided with a plurality of longitudinally alined openings, any one of which. being engageable with the crankshaft whereby to vary its limit of movement to cortene-d to the other arm of the crank and a lever respondingly limit the movement of the slide. pivoted to the other end of the said strut,

3. In a device of the character described, saidlever being pivoted on a quadrant and 10 one or more slide doors of an elevator leg having a means attached thereto for locking alink attached thereto, a compound crank, the lever on the quadrant.

one arm of which is attached to the link, a mpport for the crank, a strut adjustably fas- OLE F. APLIN. 

